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In 1908 the London Spectator described it as "The Finest Walk in the World"; an exquisitely-preserved ancient track through spectacular Fiordland rainforest, for many years the preserve of commercial tour operators. Thanks to the efforts of the Freedom Walker movement in the 1950s, New Zealand's famous Milford Track has gradually opened up to independent travellers.
In order to preserve the fragile ecosystem, walkers must use designated huts overnight and in the high season, must complete the 54km journey in four days. Among other things, this makes taking decent photographs a little tricky, booking weeks in advance, with unpredictable weather.
These images were captured very early in the season, just after the worst of the avalanche risk, during fairly high residual water levels. The track had been partially closed just days earlier due to flooding and was still on an emergency route near the Jervois glacier, but the first two days were fine and sunny. Evening light in particular was stunning, filtering softly through the ancient forest and picking out delicate ferns and mosses in the undergrowth.
With rain forecast on day 3, some mad keen and photographically-driven walkers made an ascent of the Mackinnon Pass the evening before. Next day the pass became shrouded in thick cloud and the rain produced some stunning waterfall flows for the rest of the route.
The only downside here was an almost invisible Milford Sound at the end of the track, and the silver lining in those clouds was the excuse they provided to return there another time, hopefully producing the sister gallery to this one.